Captain’s log, stardate 67543.4: The Dauntless is currently in orbit over the planet Zeta Auriga II, home to a humanoid civilization at approximately Earth’s 22nd century level of technology and social progression. While the Aurigites have not yet achieved warp drive, they no longer fall under the protections of the Prime Directive because the Morain made contact with this civilization nearly half a century ago and they have been trading partners with the Morain Alliance for much of that time – Zeta Auriga II being the only known source of hipnuts, a rare delicacy enjoyed by the Morain. While vague about their description of the Aurigites, one of my Morain counterparts suggested my crew should be cautious in their interaction with the planet’s inhabitants, as they have been known to easily take offense to what most civilized beings would consider minor gaffes or unintended insults. I’m keeping that bit of advice in mind as I beam down to negotiate for shore leave rights. Koester, commanding Dauntless, out. Commander Setton To’Lock Arbelo – first officer of the Federation starship USS Dauntless – stood in the transporter room as the system activated and three crew members – Fleet Captain Peter J. Koester, Lt Commander Thomas Riker, and 1st Lieutenant Jeong-Hwan – materialized on the platform. “How did your negotiations go, Skipper?” Arbelo asked Captain Koester as the latter stepped down off the platform. “It took a little bit of back and forth between us and the Aurigites, but we have received permission for the crew to beam down and enjoy shore leave, Exec,” Koester remarked as the other two men on the negotiating team likewise exited the transporter. “In fact, in some ways, they almost seemed too eager to have us visit.” “Probably hoping to work out another beneficial trade agreement with us like they have with the Morain,” Riker commented. “I think the Aurigites are hoping to trade more than just their hipnuts. They seemed quite interested in some of our standard equipment.” The chief operations officer held up his tricorder and phaser as examples. “...And when they found out we had exchanged defense technology with the Morain, one of them asked me off the record if we would be willing to trade those items with them.” “There’s no way we’re giving Federation weaponry to these people,” Koester said, leading the small group out into the corridor. Arbelo noticed the expression on the captain’s face and his less than enthusiastic demeanor. “Something wrong, Skipper?” the Terran-Vulcan-Efrosian officer asked. “Nothing I can put my finger on,” Koester quickly admitted. “Maybe it’s just that certain things about their culture bother me slightly.” “Like what?” “Just from looking at them, you would think they were typical examples of 22nd century humans on Earth. But they seem to allow their spiritual beliefs to dominate their everyday lives. For example, their religion doesn’t allow any use of alcohol at all,” Koester said as the officers entered a turbolift and started heading toward the bridge. “I noticed that. I thought perhaps they just never developed it?” Riker suggested. “History has shown the ability to ferment alcohol is something just about every civilization discovers early in their development, from the early Egyptians of Earth to the First Hebitian Civilization on Cardassia Prime. Their prohibition against alcohol was something one of the Morain captains told me about when we were making inquiries about this planet. The Morain offered the Aurigites alcohol products in trade for the hipnuts when contact was established between the two cultures decades ago, and the Aurigites almost rioted and tried to kill the Morain negotiating team in response. Their beliefs apparently prohibit any item that has the potential to loosen the Aurigites inhibitions. This apparently also includes music and dancing.” “No music, no dancing, and no booze. Sounds like it’s going to be a really fun place to have some R&R, Skipper,” Arbelo remarked dryly. “The Aurigites have a very strict moral code,” Koester commented. “Maybe I’m just being biased, but they remind me a little too much of the Min for my comfort.” “You mean that regressive culture on Capria IV that held you captive for nearly a year and made us all believe you had been killed by terrorists?” Riker asked. “That’s the one,” Koester agreed. As the turbolift reached the bridge and the door opened, the four officers stepped out, continuing their conversation. “What do you intend to do?” Arbelo asked. “We’re here to relax a little after some stressful recent missions. Tell the crew to watch their steps while they’re down there. We don’t want any other interstellar incidents. As for me, I may find some time to relax while we’re visiting here, but it will be aboard the ship. I have no intention of beaming back down there again.” As Koester reached the command chair, which was currently occupied by Lt Nick Dillon, Chief Pono Kyman – the starship’s Chief of the Boat – turned around in his seat and looked at the captain. “What’s the word, Skipper?” the El-Aurian asked. “Any crew members planning on taking shore leave on Zeta Auriga II need to attend a liberty briefing before leaving the ship, COB. Otherwise, liberty by department head.” “Aye, sir!” Kyman said with a grin. It had been several months since the Dauntless last made a stop anywhere strictly for R&R. “I wonder if they have any golf courses on this planet?” “Perhaps you can introduce the game to them, COB?” Arbelo suggested with a smile. He then looked at the captain and asked, “Any new orders?” “Just to set the in-port watch and schedule the first liberty brief, Exec,” Koester replied. “If you need me, I’ll be down in my quarters.” Space, the Final Frontier... These are the voyages of the starship Dauntless! Star Trek: Dauntless “Liberty Party” By PJK Several minutes later, Koester had his uniform jacket off, his feet propped up on the coffee table, and was sitting on his couch, his right hand holding a padd on which was displayed the latest novel he was reading, his left hand stroking the fur of the fluffy dog-like creature his daughter had adopted several years earlier and named Nanook, who was curled up next to him on the cushion with his head resting on Koester’s leg. The captain looked up when the door chime rang. “Come.” The doors swished open and Lieutenant (JG) Cassie Koester – one of the starship’s operations officers and the captain’s ‘foster daughter,’ in actuality a centuries-old Lucian who was rescued from her dying planet by the captain several years earlier – stepped in. “Are you heading down to the surface for shore leave, Pe... Captain?” she asked. “Not this time, Cassie,” Koester said. “Something about the Aurigites rubs me the wrong way. I think I’ll have a more pleasant and relaxing time staying aboard the ship.” He noticed her immediate look of disappointment. “You know, just because I’m not beaming down doesn’t mean you can’t go.” “I was hoping we could go together. Commander Riker has work to do aboard the ship, and I was thinking that you and I haven’t done anything fun together in weeks.” “Maybe next planet,” Koester remarked. Cassie huffed under her breath, then noticed Nanook lying on the couch under the captain’s hand, his tail starting to wag when he noticed her gaze. “What about Nanook?” she asked. Koester looked down at the pet next to him, then asked, “You want to go on shore leave with the dog?” “I’m sure he would love to have a chance to run around in some real sunshine and fresh air,” Cassie remarked. “I’m sure it’s been ages since he’s seen a REAL tree!” Nanook looked at Koester’s face, his tail starting to wag even faster. “You want to go for a walk?” the captain asked, prompting an immediate reaction from the animal. Nanook jumped off the couch and started running around the room, yipping and barking and occasionally jumping up against Cassie Koester’s leg, as if he understood what the captain had said perfectly. “Looks like he wants to go,” Cassie said with a smile. “Fine. But on three conditions: One, he stays on his leash – I don’t want him getting away from you and running loose on some strange planet. Two, stay away from any native animals – who knows how they may react to one another. And three, I want both of you to beam back up if there is any trouble whatsoever!” “Understood, Captain, sir,” Cassie responded casually as she retrieved Nanook’s leash and knelt down to clip it on his collar. “Come on, Nookie. Let’s go have some fun and leave the party pooper up here to read his book.” “I hope you have a nice shore leave too,” Koester remarked sarcastically as both Lt(JG) Koester and Nanook disappeared out into the corridor. * * * * After retrieving some necessary items from the quarters she shared with another junior officer, including a small holographic camera, Lt Koester and Nanook soon arrived in the transporter room. There were several other crew members waiting to beam down ahead of Koester, and it seemed most of those heading to the surface for shore leave were going in groups of two to four people. After several groups beamed down, it came time for Koester and Nanook to step up on the transporter platform.